What is white and black and is NOT read all over? The Activist. If you’re reading this, you’re one of the few.The Activist is the independent University of Cincinnati-Raymond Walters College student newspaper. It’s OUR newspaper; it’s YOUR newspaper.
Every once in awhile, someone will come up to me in the hallways and say, “Hey, I read your sports article in the last issue. It was cool.”
I’d much rather someone come up to me and want to argue about something I’ve written about the world of sports. Without argument, debate, and fan-hood, sports would be rather boring. I find myself relieved that someone has actually picked up a free copy of The Activist to read.
Whether the student has picked up The Activist to flip through the black and gray pictures between classes or to read word for word the bi-weekly movie review and “On the Spot” features to pass time during a History or Psychology lecture, at least you’ve noticed us, and the staff of The Activist thanks you.
This is our 12th and final issue of The Activist for the 2007-2008 school year, and I’m proud to say I’ve been on-board since Volume 21, No. 1 was released on October 15, 2007. Myself, along with other staff writers Othello Gooden, Michael Lewicki, Adrienne Staples, and Courtney Myrick have put in countless hours over at least two quarters to give our students and staff important RWC-related news, such as the death of former Dean Dr. Dolores Straker, the naming of Interim Dean Don O’Meara, UC’s plan to convert to semesters, school award winners and other RWC announcements.
I’m not asking for me and my faithful gang to be placed on pedestals and given gold medals for our work, since this is tedious work that we enjoy, and we do it as part of a credited class: we just ask that you read.
Full-time students who show up to RWC at least five days a week have never heard of The Activist. This is unfortunate considering that every other Monday afternoon, The Activist is filtered throughout campus in places that are more than noticeable.
What’s black and grey and read all over? The News Record.
Students suck up those copies of the News Record, UC’s newspaper, as soon as they hit the ground. That’s no knock on the News Record at all. The News Record provides great information to the campus, and I encourage everyone to read those copies when we get them, just as I do.
But why is it that you eagerly reach for the News Record and leave the stack of copies of The Activist untouched, which is usually lying right next to the News Record?
Is it because those Xeroxed black and white copies of The Activist are easily overlooked? Is it because our publications’ title, The Activist, isn’t catchy enough for you? Is it because you’ve never heard of the up-and-coming journalism, liberal arts, and communications majored students whose names occupy the bylines?
Do we give too much information on a bi-weekly basis? Did Activist Faculty Advisor Professor Mike Roos wrongly fail you in that Bob Dylan class you took (Topics in Lit III), or do his superb music making skills turn you off?
Even if you answered a disappointing yes to one of those questions, that still doesn’t provide a valid excuse for you not to grab a copy of The Activist when you walk past it every other Tuesday morning on your way to class, and take at least 10 minutes to flip through and read the headlines and first paragraph of each article.
I know I’m “preaching to the choir,” because if you found the time to read this, you’re one of our faithful. And I know there is no headline on this issue’s cover page reading “Naked Girl on Page 10” or “Coupons for FREE Shell Gas on Page 10” that will drive that student who’s going to reach over The Activist to grab The News Record to pick up The Activist and turn to this article.
I just ask that you, our reader, help us out and let your friends and classmates know of the great information we have to offer, because they’re only robbing themselves.
If you don’t want to do that, just go up to someone in the hall and say “Hey! Go read Ced’s article on Page 10 of The Activist. That guy always has something interesting to say.